Being part of the team: A case study which examines the experiences and perceptions of a postgraduate taught student involvement in an ongoing research project

Postgraduate students in the UK face many challenges when returning to study. These include lack of confidence in their own knowledge and skills which may create anxiety (Bamber, Choudhary, Hislop & Lane 2017) and have a negative impact on their learning experience (Coneyworth, Jessop, Maden & White, 2020). Tobbell et al (2010) argue that there is often an assumption that the postgraduate student possesses expert knowledge due to prior experiences which may contrast with the students’ own perceptions. Therefore, to address and support the development and acquisition of student knowledge it is important to explore and understand the student’s experience so that the curriculum can be enhanced and improved. This is particularly relevant when providing research education to postgraduate students as this will enhance future career aspirations (Daniel, 2016) and the provision of evidence-based care in practice. To develop this understanding, it is proposed that a postgraduate student's experience of participating in an ongoing research project will be examined. This research project is aligned to the student’s research topic that they have explored during the level 7 research modules. This will facilitate a nuanced understanding of the student's experience which can be used to inform the curriculum in the future

Protecting the public: an investigation of midwives' perceptions of regulation and the regulator

Abstract Objective: to investigate the perceptions of a group of midwifery registrants about the influence of regulation and the regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, on the practice of midwives in the United Kingdom Design: quantitative and qualitative research using an online survey and semi-structured interviews Setting: The South East of England, which covers both urban and rural practice settings. Participants: (a) 132 (n=70%) midwives responded to the online survey, and (b) 20 midwives participated in the semi-structured interviews Findings: midwives were generally supportive of the need to regulate practice; however, some participants had an uneasy relationship with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and claimed to practice defensively, due to a fear that they could be removed from the register, and believed the regulator to be remote and punitive. For other participants concerns were raised about fitness to practice procedures, particularly in terms of decision making. Key Conclusions: the participants felt that in order for midwifery regulation to be effective the regulator needs to have detailed knowledge and appreciation of the role of the midwife, and the needs of the pregnant woman

Consumer demand for orgnic foods : Attitudes, values and purchasing behaviour

The Danish market for organic foods is relatively mature, meaning that it does not suffer seriously from the supply shortages and barriers, which dominate most of the markets outside Denmark. The well-functioning Danish market makes it possible to collect and analyse reliable data on purchases. In an ongoing study we analyse consumer demand for organic foods in Denmark. The project is part of the Danish DARCOF centre and participating institutions include AKF, University of Copenhagen, GfK Denmark and CIRED, France. Our study distinguishes itself by being based on observations of stated as well as actual purchasing behaviour. The project applies information at the individual household level (utilising panel data of 2000 households’ daily purchases of a large number of organic as well as conventional foods during 1997-2001), which makes a detailed and informative approach possible. In addition, the modelling is supported by a questionnaire, surveying households in the very same panel (response rate 77%) for information on attitudes, stated values and food habits. Description of project, data and full questionnaire is available at www.akf.dk/organicfoods. In this paper, we identify important characteristics of consumers with high propensity to purchase organic foods, with special attention to the importance of valued organic product attributes

Protecting the public: the current regulation of midwifery

Pregnancy and childbirth has long held a place at the centre of communities globally and as a result, the provision of care to the pregnant woman has been a source of interest and fascination to governments and society alike. The United Kingdom is no exception. At the start of the twentieth century with the enactment of the Midwives Registration Act in 1902, the work of the midwife for the first time became regulated by this early piece of legislation. As the 20th century progressed the regulatory and legal frameworks that governed midwifery also developed, such that the current practice of midwifery and the provision of maternity care is now influenced by a myriad of regulation. Despite these controls there is little empirical data, particularly in relation to the practice of midwives, which demonstrates the effectiveness of these systems and strategies. Whilst it is true that maternal mortality and stillbirth rates have never been lower (Knight el al, 2014), patient safety incidents (NHS England, 2014), and claims of clinical negligence in obstetrics have continued to climb over the past thirty years (NHSLA, 2014). This raises the question of whether the current statutory aim of ‘protecting the public’ is being realised, and whether the regulatory mechanisms which were devised to ensure the health and wellbeing of the public who access the maternity services, undermine or promote quality care. The aim of this study therefore is to explore the perceptions and experiences of governance and regulation in the clinical setting amongst a sample of midwifery practitioners. The study offers a socio-legal exploration of midwifery governance and legal frameworks (Ewick and Sibley, 1998) and examines the ‘lived experience’ of participants, so that their understanding of regulation and its influence on the role of the midwife could be described and analysed (van Mannen, 1990). The study was carried out between March 2012 and March 2013 and included midwives who worked in both the NHS and private sectors in the South East of England. The study gathered quantitative data via an online survey which was distributed to 192 midwives and which had a 70% response rate. It also collected qualitative data via 20 face to face semi-structured interviews. On analysis the data presents a complex picture of regulation particularly in relation to views and opinions of clinical governance, the NMC and statutory supervision. The themes which emerged included; the impact of regulation on the provision of care, the role of regulation in facilitating woman centred care, and unease about mechanisms used to address issues of poor practice. Whilst good practice was evident, concerns and challenges also arose as a result of the regulatory frameworks, which at times did not appear to support the provision of safe quality care as the legislation intended

The Ten Tribes of Wier in America - Accession 715 #6

The Ten Tribes of Wier in America was compiled and printed by William Swansea Wier in Atlanta, Georgia in 1933. The book covers the family and descendants of Thomas and Mary Withrow Wier from the 1700s through 1933. They eventually settled in Greenwood, S.C. There are handwritten notes in the book presumably added by the author. Other surnames found in the volume include: Blake, Britt, Dunbar, Gregg, Peden, McDill, McDowell, Mull, and Scott. The book includes photographs and a folding generational chart. Please see the attached document.https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/manuscriptcollection_findingaids/2338/thumbnail.jp

Application of ERTS-A imagery to fracture related mine safety hazards in the coal mining industry

The author has identified the following significant results. The most important result to date is the demonstration of the special value of repetitive ERTS-1 multiband coverage for detecting previously unknown fracture lineaments despite the presence of a deep glacial overburden. The Illinois Basin is largely covered with glacial drift and few rock outcrops are present. A contribution to the geological understanding of Illinois and Indiana has been made. Analysis of ERTS-1 imagery has provided useful information to the State of Indiana concerning the surface mined lands. The contrast between healthy vegetation and bare ground as imaged by Band 7 is sharp and substantial detail can be obtained concerning the extent of disturbed lands, associated water bodies, large haul roads, and extent of mined lands revegetation. Preliminary results of analysis suggest a reasonable correlation between image-detected fractures and mine roof fall accidents for a few areas investigated. ERTS-1 applications to surface mining operations appear probable, but further investigations are required. The likelihood of applying ERTS-1 derived fracture data to improve coal mine safety in the entire Illinois Basin is suggested from studies conducted in Indiana

The use of drama within midwifery education to facilitate the understanding of professional behaviour and values

Objective: To develop student midwife understanding of professional values and the application of these in clinical practice, prior to commencing their first clinical placement. Design: An action research project. Setting: A Simulation Suite environment within a University setting. Participants: 6 year 3 drama students and a cohort of 36 midwifery students. Findings: The students were supportive of the idea of collaborative projects as this permitted the facilitation of student understanding of key professional values and their application in the clinical setting. Key Conclusions: The students felt that the move away from a didactic approach to learning and teaching towards a more experiential model of teaching, enabled a more in depth reflection on the importance of professional standards and behaviour when providing care to pregnant women

Væksten i forbrug af økovarer

Efterspørgslen efter økologiske fødevarer er vokset kraftigt i Danmark og mange andre vestlige lande de seneste ti år. Forbruget udgør dog stadig kun få procent af det samlede fødevareforbrug i de fleste lande. I dag er det en nicheproduktion, men den har måske potentialet til at sprænge alle rammer og opnå betragtelige markedsandele, siger seniorforsker Mette Wier, AKF. Nærværende artikel gengiver resultater fra forskningsprojektet “Efterspørgslen efter økologiske fødevarer”, der udføres af AKF i regi af Forskningscenter for Økologisk Jordbrug. I dette projekt er det analyseret hvilke faktorer, der kan styrke en sådan udvikling

Dansk undersøgelse om forbrug af øko-varer

Efterspørgslen efter økologiske fødevarer er vokset kraftigt i Danmark og mange andre vestlige lande de seneste ti år. Forbruget udgør dog stadig kun få procent af det samlede fødevareforbrug i de fleste lande. I dag er det en nicheproduktion, men den har måske potentialet til at sprænge alle rammer og opnå betragtelige markedsandele. I et nyligt afsluttet projekt “Efterspørgslen efter økologiske fødevarer” er det analyseret hvilke faktorer, der kan styrke en sådan udvikling. Projektet er udført af AKF og DMU i regi af Forskningscenter for Økologisk Jordbrug